Nigeria Puts Mandriva Back on Classmate PCs

In the confusion surrounding the choice of an operating system for 17,000 Classmate PCs the Nigerian government has finally come down in favor of Mandriva Linux.

At least 11,000 Classmate PCs ordered by Nigeria will run Mandriva Linux, and not Windows, according to a government spokesperson. The Intel Classmate PC initiative aims to deploy low-budget PCs mainly in developing countries. Originally ordered with the Mandriva Linux operating system, the Nigerian company responsible for system integration, TSC, decided to replace Mandriva with Windows. Mandriva suspected intrigue on the part of Microsoft and responded by addressing an open letter to Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer; Microsoft denied the accusations.

In the meantime, the Nigerian government has reversed TSC’s decision, and Mandriva will be deployed on at least 11,000 PCs destined for the Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), a government organization.